Self-driving cars have been heralded by many as the future of transportation—promising safer roads, reduced traffic, and greater mobility for all. Yet despite rapid advancements in technology and a surge in assistive driving features, acceptance of full vehicle automation remains elusive. As the public grapples with questions of trust, safety, and responsibility, the road to widespread adoption of automated vehicles is anything but straightforward. The stakes are high: how we navigate this transition could redefine the way we move for generations to come. So, how far are we from acceptance, adoption, and implementation?Â
In this episode, we’re joined by the co-directors of the Advanced Vehicle Technology (AVT) Consortium, hosted within the MIT AgeLab at the MIT Center or Transportation & Logistics: Dr. Bryan Reimer, Dr. Pnina Gershon, and Dr. Bruce Mehler. They explore key insights from their recent research, the role of data in shaping safer and smarter mobility solutions, and how the consortium is addressing critical questions around driver behavior, automation readiness, and industry collaboration as they celebrate their 10th anniversary year.
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The State of Sustainability
Sustainability has become an imperative for many companies—but in the face of regulatory rollbacks and budget cuts, are those goals here to stay? In this episode, we explore how companies can meaningfully pursue sustainability, even amid shifting political and economic pressures. We discuss growing public support for sustainability, the role of data and modeling in shaping corporate sustainability strategies, and how companies can build resilient, responsible supply chains.Â
In this episode, we’re joined by members of the MIT Sustainable Supply Chain Lab, hosted within the MIT Center for Transportation & Logistics: Tori Arnold, Project Manager, Dr. Sreedevi Rajogopalan, Research Scientist, and Martin Staadecker, Research Assistant. The lab’s annual State of Supply Chain Sustainability Survey offers insights into the current state of sustainability across industries—we invite you to complete this year’s survey here (open until May 31st, 2025).
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The Role of Online Education in Upskilling the Workforce
In recent years, online education has come to the forefront as an alternative to traditional education programs. Its increasing prominence reflects its adaptability, flexibility, affordability, and far-reaching scale. As the global workforce stands to undergo significant changes in the next 5-10 years due to digitalization, advancements in AI, and automation, employers are increasingly valuing skills over degrees. For workers, this requires a practice of continuous learning.
In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Eva Ponce, Director of Online Education at the MIT Center for Transportation & Logistics, and Dr. Inma Borrella, Academic Lead for the MITx MicroMasters Program in Supply Chain Management. Eva and Inma discuss the role of online education in upskilling the workforce and the impact of the MITx MicroMasters Program, the first of its kind.
Host & Executive Producer: Benjy Kantor
Marketing Writer & Producer: Mackenzie Berry
Sound Editor: David Benjamin Sound
Audio Engineer: Kurt Schneider
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Smarter Warehouses: AI & Robotics at the Forefront of Logistics Innovation
In this episode we sit down with Dr. Matthias Winkenbach, Director of Research at the MIT Center for Transportation & Logistics, Alejandro González, Software Business Unit Director at Mecalux, and Iñaki Fernández, Chief Technology Officer at Mecalux.
Mecalux, a provider of warehouse management solutions, is a founding research partner of the new MIT Intelligent Logistics Systems Lab, which is at the forefront of advancing logistics through innovative technology. We discuss how AI and machine learning are not just buzzwords but can actually create additional value in warehouse robotics, such as in the case of autonomous robots and software solutions that help companies manage demand out of a distributed network.Â
Host & Executive Producer: Benjy Kantor
Marketing Writer & Producer: Mackenzie Berry
Sound Editor: David Benjamin Sound
Audio Engineer: Kurt Schneider
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Vehicle Routing in the Age of AI
Vehicle routing is one of the most well-understood, extensively studied problems in both history and academia—it's been studied by academics since the early 1800s. Yet 200 years later, optimal efficiency remains just out of reach. And given the enormous increase in pressure for consumer expectations in recent years, that remaining "last mile" of vehicle routing efficiency could, on a global scale, make a huge difference to a huge number of people.
In this episode, we're joined by Matthias Winkenbach, Director of Research at the MIT Center for Transportation & Logistics. Matthias is an expert in urban logistics, last-mile delivery, and vehicle routing, and he has just launched a new lab, the MIT Intelligent Logistics Systems Lab, that will use AI and machine-learning techniques to tackle today's vehicle routing challenges—and that could make a major impact on vehicle routing solutions where traditional methods and algorithms have come up just short.
intelligent.mit.edu
Host & Executive Producer: Benjy Kantor
Marketing Writer & Producer: Dan McCool
Sound Editor: David Benjamin Sound
Audio Engineer: Kurt Schneider
Ireland